10 Best Budget Planner Book Choices: Take Control in 2023

Reviews of the top 10 best budget planner book options (plus an additional bonus planner) to keep you on track to meet or exceed your financial goals. These popular budget planners will keep your money organized by using simple tracking sheets.

What You Need to Know

> Budget planner books have different features. For one to work for helping to meet your financial goals it is important to select the best fit. > Creating a budget is the best way to estimate your total income and expenses to keep track of where your money is being spent. > Budget books can also help you keep track of other important expenses such as shopping, entertainment, gas, travel, insurance, and home improvement costs.

NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. Read the disclosure for details.

Finding the best budget planner book to fit your needs and personality can be a challenge.

Some people think budgeting is a waste of time, and they don’t understand how using a budget planner can be effective in getting their financial goals in line with their spending habits.

They believe that budgeting only means cutting back on everything they enjoy in life, and so it’s better to just spend as much money as possible without worrying about the consequences.

Budgeting doesn’t have to be like that at all! In fact, that is not even close to how budgeting works.

Before we take a deep dive into the top budget planners and hone in the details so you know the one that will work best for you, we want to share our top pick, the Clever Fox Budget Planner.

What is the best budget planner to buy?

The Clever Fox Budget Planner is our top pick to take control of your finances and get on track for an awesome financial future.

It comes in numerous styles, layouts, and sizes so you can choose the best planner to fit your personal needs.

The following are just a few of the many choices to choose from!

We think this is the best budget planner because of its simple and practical design, making it easy to use.

The Clever Fox Budget Book will help you:

• Set short-term money goals
• Set long-term financial goals
• Save money
• Create a monthly budget you can stick with
• Stop your bad spending habits

This budget planner organizer is also easy to carry if you want to take it along.

Budget Planners Included in this Review

There are a variety of styles and contents available when you go shopping for the perfect budget planner.

In fact, there are so many options you may get overwhelmed and just walk away and go home or log off of the internet empty-handed without choosing a way to track and plan your weekly and monthly expenses.

Let us decipher the details of the best budget planner book options so you can shop without feeling this frustration.

1. Clever Fox Budget Planner
2. Legend Budget Planner
3. Limitless Mindset Budget Planner
4. GoGirl Budget Planner
5. Erin Condren Petite Planner Book
6. Boxclever Press Budget Planner
7. DebtorEdu Budget Planner
8. Yanshi Budget Planner
9. Financial Peace Planner
10. Smart Planner Budget Book
11. The Happy Planner Budget Planner for Women (Bonus planner)

[Check Out These Budget Planners and Others]

What is creating a budget?

Budgeting is a way of estimating the total income and expenses for a specific period.

It can be done based on one month, three months, or even one year.

Budgeting doesn’t necessarily mean reducing the amount of money you spend on yourself.

It just means taking an honest look at your finances and deciding how much money you have to spend on all your living expenses so you don’t run out of money before all the bills are paid and before you get another paycheck.

Budgeting is important because it can help solve these money challenges:

Unexpected Financial Situations

Keeping track of your money by using a budget can help control financial situations that may otherwise get out of hand when there has not been prior preparation.

Less Stress when there is an Emergency

Budget planning helps to have money available when needed for emergency situations in the future.

Decrease Impulse Buying

Impulse buying can be another problem if a budget is not set up.

Knowing how much money you have to spend on unnecessary items and still comfortably pay the monthly bills can help you think twice before buying something you don’t need in the spur of the moment.

Build Up Savings Faster

The process of budgeting is crucial for helping everyone manage their hard-earned money wisely.

If you need to save for a down payment on a house or vehicle, retirement, etc., setting up a budget so you know how much money you can afford to put into a savings account can help you build the value of this account faster.

You might also like: 35 Unique Gift Basket Ideas: Do It Yourself and Save Money [Updated Guide]

Help You Stay Out of Debt

Budgeting forces you to plan ahead.

Instead of spending money as soon as it comes in, budgeters save a portion of their income every month so that when unexpected expenses come up they have the money to cover them instead of having to use a credit card.

It’s also easy to spend a lot on fun things when there’s no limit or budget set beforehand, and some people even put themselves in debt using credit on things they don’t need.

What is a budget binder?

A budget planner, often called a budget binder, can help you figure out how much money you have coming in each month, and how much money you’re likely to need for expenses throughout the year (money going out.)

That way, even if your income fluctuates from one month or quarter to another, you’ll always know how much money you need to pay your expenses each month until your income picks back up.

This budgeting tool can help you manage your money in the following ways:

Keep Stressful Financial Situations in Check

A budget planner book can make sure you’re never caught off-guard with budget shortfalls or sudden expenses.

Some budget planner books even have online budget templates that allow you to upload your data each month, which is a great way to keep track of everything in real-time and easily see what adjustments need to be made.

Breaks Your Spending into Bite-Sized Pieces

The budget planner books recommended in this post will help you break down your budget into manageable pieces month-by-month, and help you understand where every dollar is going.

They are also designed to help you make sure your cash is being used in the smartest way possible.

The best budget planner options usually contain places and sections where entries can be made regarding income and expenditure each month over a designated time frame- from 1 month to up to 12 months depending upon the type of budget

Track Your Spending Habits

A budgeting planner makes it easy to keep track of your spending habits and plan ahead for purchases in advance, so you won’t have to wait until the last minute or forget about budgeting altogether!

Tell You How Much Money You have to Spend

Budget planners help you decide how much money you can spend on different expenses, taking into account activities you do for fun, not just money spent on rent, groceries, electricity, etc.

Keeps Your Financial Goals Realistic

Budget planners ensure that your budget remains realistic and achievable over time.

The best budget planner books include relevant information which will help handle future situations such as unexpected bills and financial emergencies such as an unplanned hospital stay.

Another example, you’ll know in advance whether or not you can cover the costs of maintaining a car that needs repairs from an accident.

Effective budget planning is vital to anybody who wants to stay financially healthy in today’s world.

What goes in a budget planner?

Some people like budget planner books that include tip sheets and checklists for different types of expenditures such as travel, medical, home improvement, and insurance.

Budgeting is one way to ensure you don’t spend more money than your income, as long as you take it seriously and follow it.

Budget books should include space for categories that fit with your particular financial situation: shopping, entertainment, gas expenses, and other miscellaneous costs.

There should also be space provided for income earned from sources such as work (and potential overtime), child support or alimony payments, rental income if you have any properties outside of your primary residence that you rent out, income from investments, and other sources of income.

No matter what content you choose for your organizer, the goal does not change, which is to set up an effective budgeting system tailored to fit your needs.

There are a variety of pages that can go inside a good budget planner.

The key features to look for in a budget planner include:

• Bill organizer/place for bills and receipts
• Debt tracking pages
• Savings tracker
• Monthly spending pages

When using a budget planner just remember to take it one step at a time!

It’s not necessary to include every single expense on your first go-round; simply budget one category at a time until you’ve got all of your bases covered.

How do you keep a budget book?

Essentially, you keep a budget book by tracking every bit of your money that comes and, and track your expenses down to the last dime that goes out, using this planner.

If you stay consistent with entering information and your planner includes every aspect of your personal finance goals, it will turn into the answer to effectively managing your finances.

Because of this accountability factor, budget planners are generally more effective than budgeting on your own without any kind of tracking system.

It tells budgeters exactly how much they spend each day or week and it makes them accountable for their budgeting because everything has to be written down.

How do I use my budget planner book?

You can look at your budget planner as a tool to help you keep your finances in control because when it is completed correctly and consistently, you will know where each dime of your money is being spent.

If they’re used correctly, budget planner books help budgeters to stay on budget.

Budget planners allow budgeters to see how much money they will have leftover at the end of each month, or if they are going to be in a shortfall with more expenses than income.

The budget notebook is used for active budget tracking so you stay ahead of financial stress and crises.

What is a good budget plan?

Many people avoid budget planning because they figure it’s just too hard or complicated.

However, with the right budget planning system and some practice budgeting can be fun.

Simply put, a good budget plan is one you will follow.

It’s the same as going on a diet to lose weight. There are numerous programs that are effective, but there may only be one or two that are effective for you because they are the ones you will follow.

If you hate going to the gym so much you dread it before you even put on your workout clothes, the chances aren’t great that you are going to go consistently, so you need to find a weight loss plan that doesn’t include going to the gym as part of the success plan.

Budgeting is no different.

There are numerous ways to build a budget, and as long as the key factors are met it will be a success.

Curious if how much money you make is comparable to others in a similar job? Find out how you stack up in the post What is Considered a Good Hourly Wage Today

How do you create a budget plan?

Tracking how much money comes in over the month and then comparing it with how much is left over at the end of each month is the start of creating the perfect budget.

You can also monitor your money by the week, or even day (which I don’t recommend because it gets very tedious and you are likely to get behind and then give up.)

Tips for a budget plan that works:

Create a Budget within Your Means

While it’s tempting to set up an ultra-strict budget, it can easily backfire and cause you more stress than if you hadn’t planned ahead at all.

Make the Most of Your Money

Budget for every category of your expenses (including living expenses, entertainment, savings, shopping, etc.)

Align Your Budget with Your Objectives

The key to effective budgeting is to make sure that the money in your wallet matches the way you spend.

Schedule a No-Spend Day

Insert random days throughout the year where there’s no shopping allowed.

If you’re having trouble sticking to a strict daily or weekly spending limit, create a no-spend day once a week instead.

This will not only help budgeters stay budget-friendly, but it’ll also keep budgeters from breaking the budget in one big shopping spree.

Reviews of the 10 Best Budget Planner Book Options in 2022

The following reviews offer a great selection of the best budget planners.

We used our own insight, research, and real customer reviews to share the best options possible with consumers.

We are confident you will find one that is a perfect match to track your spending habits, control your cash flow, and grow your savings account.

If you need a user manual, many even include a budgeting plan to assist you.

1. Clever Fox Budget Planner

2. Legend Budget Planner

You can start today and move forward.

This planner has room for you to set goals, track your progress in attaining them, and then brainstorm solutions to reach those goals.

There is also plenty of space for notes and reminders which keeps everything from getting lost.

3. Limitless Mindset Budget Planner

4. GoGirl Budget Planner

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a BFF this is one she would love without a doubt!

5. Erin Condren Petite Budget Book

It comes in several editions (Edition  3 bound style shown) and a variety of colors.

The positive quote on the front of the binder is a simple reminder of the importance of making a plan to be able to reach your goals.

If you carry your budget planner with you, this is the perfect size to easily slide into the side of a bag. If you are looking for something bigger with more writing space, the larger Erin Condren Planner in size A5 would be a better choice.

6. Boxclever Press Budget Planner

It is perfect for managing monthly payments, and the larger size offers more room to make notes and get a solid plan in place to create a budget and follow it with ease.

If you want to use a budget planner to keep your finances in check, the planner features exactly what you need to build a personal financial plan.

7. DebtorEdu Budget Planner

It includes a plan for you to:

This planner is loaded with the tools you need to create a solid budget and run with it.

8. Yanshi Budget Planner

Budgeting can be a daunting task to take on.

But, the Yanshi Budget Planner has all of the tools that you need to keep you organized and on track.

If you have a friend or family member who is passionate about budgeting or wants to start budgeting and make it a priority, this is the perfect gift.

9. Financial Peace Planner

However, the concepts are never-ending and you can create a money foundation using these tried-and-true financial strategies.

If you need a specific budgeting planner, this is not the book for you.

If you need a supplement to assist you with preparing a budget it would serve as a perfect companion with any budget planner.

10. Smart Planner Budget Book

This book offers step-by-step planning techniques that will help you achieve your financial goals one day at a time.

Along the way, you’ll be able to spot trouble areas and turn them into opportunities.

The Smart Planner Budget Book is a perfect gift for family or friends that want to take charge of their finances and have a place to keep track of the results.

11. The Happy Planner Budget Planner for Women (Bonus Planner)

This planner will help you set personal financial goals, save money, and follow a budget.

The saying on the front “Girls just wanna have funds” is a fun reminder of the importance of budgeting and taking control of your money.

The cover is bright and cheerful in pastel colors.

Quick View Comparison Chart for Best Budget Planner Book

Best Budget Planner Book Options [Key Takeaways]

Choosing the best budget planner to fit your personality may take a couple of tries with trial and error to realize one just isn’t right.

Don’t become discouraged if this happens to you or it takes a while to complete the pages in your binder.

Budgeting can be difficult and it requires some patience and determination to see all of the budgeting steps through to completion.

Stick with it and budget for your financial success!

Keep in mind that although budgeting may feel hard, it is doable with commitment and consistency.

With budget planner books you can create a budget strategy that fits into your lifestyle and help you manage your money effectively.

The budget planners in this review are an excellent tool for anyone looking to begin budgeting or even those who are looking to manage their budget more efficiently, so I recommend getting one as soon as possible and start looking forward to a solid financial future.

And one more thing about budgeting . . .

Are you struggling with keeping your finances stress-free?

Starting a budget will make a huge difference no matter how much money you make. If you feel like you have your financial goals going in the right direction and don’t have a budget, that’s great!

However, just think about how much a budget could put even more of your hard-earned money back into your pocket!

The free Budgeting Basics eBook is the perfect resource to get your money under control or fine-tune it in a specific area.

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Last update on 2023-05-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API